Mike North

I think that would be an issue for the oricinal instalers and Kent gateway to discuss as it sounds line the original instal was wrong

If you put unapproved furniture on the door it will not longer be a certified door.

If the door is fire rated, then so should the glass

I currently have several 1930’s buildings connected to a district heating main. At one end there is a subterranean plant room At the other is a pit For the subterranean plant room end I am happy to rely on the external door to the space as that is all there is in the plantroom. However I am looking for advice as to what to do with the pit end which is in the actual boiler room. What fire stopping would you suggest if any?

You have 5 options (in order of cost) 1 Alter the aperture so that an off the shelf fire door fits without major modification 2 Have a fire risk assessment completed the shows the compensatory factors in place (fire alarm, stopping, sprinklers etc) are adequate without the doors for life safety. 3 Consult with a door manufacturer about modifications to and existing fire door in line with the existing modifications allowed to the door so that it fits 4 Have a paper written by a test house to allow the modification of the door 5 Pay for a burn test to approve the door

I think that you will find that if you must alter the door because of sloped ceilings this may take the door out of its certification. If the doors are 35mm then you will need to change them, no need for an opinion.

What is the door frame and how is it fixed to the wall, if the door is 44mm thick and solid core then what are you gaining from the certification of a fire door ? You will still have a nominal fire door installation as the full assembly has not been type tested I would get a fire door specialist to give you an opinion as to the suitability of the doors before I rip them out

When was it last inspected by a competent person

All depends on the layout

Looks like the pendulum is on the upswing, I just hope that there is no changes proposed to Westminster Abby

Roof spaces should be divided every 20m, if it is slightly over, I would accept. Building control from 2016 means nothing

It would appear that you have more faith in fire risk assessors than myself. I have personally had discussions about the need for fire doors with assessors, even with a fire strategy drawing signed off by the regulator, no change of use they still insist a door should be a fire door. Leave it to the designers, any material changes to a building should go through a review and be to building regulations (or compensatory factors put in place). The fire strategy should be reviewed or created at this point and signed off taking a holistic approach, this is not the job of a fire risk assessor.

It is not the fire risk assessors’ job, it is the fire engineers’ job to design the fire strategy for the building. The risk assessor is there to assess the risks given how the building is operated on the day

Building regs fall back on no worse than existing, if you make a change it must be to the present standards. You need BR document K

nice try, but no cigar!

Can I ask, what is the point of replacing the glazing if it will fall out of the frame in a fire? The frames will need to be fire rated

If the door has not been altered in any way, has a label from an accredited scheme, and has gaps of 2 – 4 mm all around then it is probably a fire door, but there is no guarantee that the installation is correct

Intumescent Strips - Fire Seals Direct You could screw them on, but the door would no longer be a fire door so it would be expensive

What an assessor usually picks up on is an open element. If it has a toaster its cooking, if not its snack preparation and reheat, microwaves rice cookers and foreman grills don’t have an open element. That’s why we are very careful about room descriptions, it can set hares running. It is pointless putting a fire door in places if the fire can simply go over or around the door. Looking at the door it looks like a rated door blank, there should be some text on the head of the door which will tell you

The question is what is in the kitchen, if it has an open element (such as a toaster) in it then it needs have a fire door, if not then there is no need for a closer. If it needs a closer, then the glazing would also need to be fire rated not just toughened along with the walls. I would get the assessor back and ask them to justify there recommendations

Not an issue in a bungalow

Surry fire & rescue How can I get a copy of my building’s Fire Risk Assessment? It is absolutely your right as an occupant of a building to have access to your premises’ Fire Risk Assessment if you choose. Your first port of call should be the Responsible Person for your building. If you’re not sure who this is, then the business owner, the facilities department, the landlord or managing agent would be good places to start. If you find that your building doesn’t have a valid Fire Risk Assessment, then you should request that your Responsible Person has one carried out as soon as possible. If you feel that you are not having your concerns treated seriously by your building’s Responsible Person, then, as a last resort, you could get in touch with your local fire brigade. However, please don’t contact the fire brigade with trivial concerns, they are busy people. And of course, do not use the 999 emergency number! You will be able to find your local fire brigade’s general enquiries number on the internet.

If there is a stay put policy, how do you get to the assembly point? If it’s a residential building, how are you going to take a roll call when you don’t know who the occupants are, if they are on holiday, have they visitors or have gone out. The fire brigade will have to do a sweep of the building to ensure that it is empty.

No external exit doors do not need strips